Chapter Sixteen – Phantom's Waltz
The Paris Opera – Late July 2005
For the second time since the opening of the opera, Christine finds herself at an extravagant ball, though this time she is dressed in a most elegant red ball gown. Why André asked all of his vocal leads to dress up so much is beyond her.
Christine and Richard, as the opera's main leads, are assigned to greet people as they arrive. To Christine's very great surprise, America's First Lady and her daughters come, as well as the British and French Prime Ministers. After many minutes of constant compliments and strained but proper conversations, Christine manages to find her way over to Missy, also wearing a ball gown but in pale blue.
"How're you doing?" she asks as Christine walks up to her.
"Fine, I guess," she replies, fingering one of the curls of her hair. It really is going much better than she expected, seeing as she must spend the whole evening with Richard. She'd guessed that things would be awkward, but they really were going quite well.
"Is Erik here?" Missy had, over the months, taken an interest in Erik, even more so than when he appeared during Christine's audition. "I mean, he should be. It's his father's opera and you're his student." I'm more than a student.
"I'm not sure," Christine responds. As if on cue, Christine catches sight of Erik talking with Webber by the grand staircase. Of course. He looks extremely handsome in a fine black tuxedo with a red rose pinned to it. Erik looks up and catches Christine's eye, though he makes no sign acknowledging her. He merely looks away again. "I guess he's here," she corrects herself.
"God, he looks amazing!" Missy nearly swoons, but Christine puts her gloved hand on her arm. "What? It's the truth!" Christine watches as Erik ends his conversation with Webber and is greeted by the French Prime Minister. Erik, however, merely bows his head out of courtesy and moves on across the hall until he is just a few feet in front of Christine. He bows gallantly to her.
"Bonsoir, Mademoiselle," he says to her, playing the gentleman. "You look absolutely ravishing." Christine curtsies back, smiling at the unneeded compliment.
"A good evening to you as well, Monsieur." He reaches into his jacket and withdraws a gorgeous corsage of red roses matching the one on his jacket.
"For you, mon amour," Erik says, taking her hand and tying the corsage around her wrist as Missy watches, her eyes transfixed on the pair of them. "Now, would you favor me with this dance?"
"I most certainly would," Christine replies a little too enthusiastically as Erik pulls her with him to the dance floor. He places his hand gently on her waist and they begin to dance. Christine feels many eyes on her, especially André and Carla's, but it doesn't matter. They don't know what's gone on between us behind closed doors. This isn't important.
Erik spins her around and as she returns to dance with him, he notices her necklace. Damn. "What's that?"
"It was a gift," she replies, trying hard to end the conversation.
"What for? Who from?" She thinks that he probably can guess, but she lies anyway.
"It was from one of my cousins for a birthday present a while back." That is the end of the awkwardness and Christine breathes freely. That was close. When the waltz ends, Erik bows again to Christine.
"Another dance, maybe?" But Christine knows it won't happen as Richard appears by her side.
"I am sorry, Monsieur Destler, but she promised me at least one dance this evening, and seeing as we're both available…"
"No need to explain, Monsieur Colville," Erik replies, but Christine sees that he's attempting to be polite where he normally wouldn't be. He walks away as Christine and Richard begin to dance.
"Why were you dancing with him, Christine?"
"I was being polite, Richard. I'm going to be the charming hostess that André asked me to be." They dance for quite a while before many of the other men and women in the cast get restless and Christine and Richard are asked to dance apart from one another.
The evening grows longer, and Christine catches herself looking around the room for Erik, then resorting to admiring her corsage. It doesn't look like it was a "nothing" purchase. In fact, it looks rather expensive.
About an hour before the ball is due to end, Christine and Richard find some time to be alone. "How was your evening?"
"Lovely," she responds quietly. "And yourself?"
"Quite good, I believe, though nothing without you," he says, his green eyes penetrating her and making her feel a little exposed. I certainly should've chosen something that isn't strapless. "You're wearing it!" He nearly shouts, reaching for the necklace. Hurriedly, Christine presses her hand to his mouth.
"Be quiet! People can't know about us until after the opera's over."
"But Christine," he says, his voice sounding almost whiny, "if we love each other, why should we hide? It's not criminal to be in love, you know." It is when you love someone else.
"I know, but things could get awkward on stage between you and Pierre."
"We're supposed to hate each other, Christine. He's Raoul, I'm the Phantom- it works." She nods in agreement, but fends off further attempts from Richard to kiss her. Finally, the last dance of the evening arrives. Christine is extremely disappointed at Erik's early flight from the party, especially because she has to dance for a sixth time with Richard.
The music slows, the dance coming to a close. Richard whispers into Christine's ear, "May I?" She nods her approval and he leans in to kiss her when Missy's high-pitched shriek is heard throughout the hall. Richard pulls away as all heads turn to the source of such an earsplitting reaction.
High atop the grand staircase stands the Phantom. Dressed in tight black pants and a silky red shirt, covered by a long black coat, accompanied by a black mask and a tall red rose in his hand, the Phantom makes his way down the staircase and stops a few feet before where André, Carla, and Webber stand. "Good evening," he says, his voice full of displeasure. "Quite a lovely party, I must say. A grand showing, Monsieur Destler. Very nice." He descends even closer to the party and takes Carla's hand. "You look very nice, Mademoiselle Granville. Pity you don't have the talent to match." She's speechless.
Christine tightens her grip on Richard's arm. "Well? This is a party, is it not? Why not have some dancing?"
"Monsieur, the party is nearly over…" André protests, but the Phantom has already cued the band to play again.
"Go on! Dance!" Out of fear, the guests begin to waltz again and Christine wishes only to be gone from the opera house. "Mademoiselle Landry," the Phantom says slyly. "It is quite wonderful to see you again, don't you think?" Christine nods, trying hard to appease him. As he hands her the rose he says, "Be gone, Monsieur Colville. I wish to dance with my protégé." Christine does not protest and is led onto the dance floor by the Phantom. As he places his hand on her waist he whispers to her, "Do not be frightened, my little angel. I do not wish to scare you."
"Had you said that before you killed my grandmother I would've believed you. I would've given you a chance."
"I only did what was right for you, little Christine," he says as he spins her around. "No more questions." Only then does he notice her necklace. She tried to hide it after Erik had asked about it, but the neckline of her dress doesn't do much for it. "What is this, my darling little angel?" He reaches out a black-gloved hand to her neck and pulls the ring up to his eye level. "A ring?"
"It was a gift…"
"From Monsieur Colville?" Christine has not the time to make a move before he says, "It's okay, you can admit it." She says nothing as he stops dancing and yanks it from her neck. "Admit it!" he shouts angrily, and the band stops playing. He takes her arms roughly. "Admit that you're in love with him. Go on! You've nothing to hide any longer!" He shakes his fist in the air, the ring on its chain hanging loosely from it. The Phantom turns to Webber and André as he takes a large black folder from his coat. He throws it at their feet. "I've rewritten some of the score. I do hope you use it to your advantage. Good luck in your performance and heed my warnings." He turns back to Richard. "And if I see you on the stage, Colville, there will be hell to pay!" With that, he is gone.
Richard moves as if to run after him, but Christine stops him. "He's not worth it." The look over at Webber and André, both of whom are looking over the music in the folder.
"Brilliant," Webber says. "He's brilliant. Look at this! Who would've thought…but I'm sure it's much better than what we've got." Christine tightens her grip on Richard's arm, partly out of fear and partly out of feeling the need to comfort him. She feels guilty; two people have now been targeted that she loves. Wondering who is next, she looks out towards the doors, hoping Erik is safe at home, away from harm.
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